In Brazil, the winning samba school at this year's Rio Carnival is accused of accepting millions of dollars from the leader of Equatorial Guinea, who's widely criticized as one of Africa's worst dictators. But do Brazilians actually care? Probably not.

Brazilian seafood stew, Vietnamese Banh Mi or Armenian Lahmajun — those are just some of the tasty delights on the menu for PRI's The World's Marco Werman and food critic Steve Dolinsky as they take a culinary tour of Boston.

The cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner in the US have their own analogues in Brazil, where relations between black citizens and police are also tense. But one Brazilian activist hopes the news from the US could push Brazilians to talk more openly about racial issues.

In his new book, Urban Acupuncture, Jaimer Lerner, the mayor who revolutionized the public transit system of Curitiba, Brazil, and cleaned up its waste, documents ways various cities create pleasant and sustainable atmospheres.

Air conditioning is responsible for some 15 percent of building energy use. What if that could be eliminated completely — using mirrors? Scientists at Stanford University think they may have found a way. That story and more in today's Global Scan.

Despite over half of Brazilians claiming African descent, black Brazilians face widespread racism — which often manifests itself in violence. For the women of Miss Black Power Brazil, resistance against racism comes from a natural place — their hair.

Edible insects are celebrated for being environmentally friendly and also potentially quite tasty. And now they're going mainstream, with the Dutch grocery store Jumbo getting ready to put them on the shelves.

Moreno Veloso's father, Caetano Veloso, is a beloved musician and political activist in his native Brazil. But Moreno is carving out a space of his own in the music world, and is now out with his first studio album in 13 years.

Brazilian supermodel Fernanda Lima has received a torrent of online abuse from Iranian soccer fans, following her appearance at last week's World Cup draw. Lima's dress was too revealing for Iranian TV, which interrupted the live program every time the cameras focused on the model — which was often.

Despite over half of Brazilians claiming African descent, black Brazilians face widespread racism — which often manifests itself in violence. For the women of Miss Black Power Brazil, resistance against racism comes from a natural place — their hair.

A photo of three pioneering women doctors has been circulating in social media -- but they're not wearing white lab coats. They're wearing culturally significant dress and they represent the first women doctors from their countries, back in the 1800s.

Brazil is investing nearly a billion dollars in Cuba's new state-of-the art deep sea port and free trade zone. The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Havana says both nations are planning for a time when Washington has lifted trade sanctions on the socialist nation.

Many women in Brazil want to deliver their babies by Cesarean section — for them, it is convenient, modern and clean. But others say they are forced into delivering their babies through surgery, in a country with one of the highest c-section rates in the world.

Dengue Fever is one of the biggest killers in tropical countries. It's carried by mosquitoes that have proven tough to eradicate, so now officials in Brazil are trying a new approach: mosquitoes that have been genetically modified.

It's World Cup playoff time, and teams are trying to snag the final few berths for next year's tournament in Brazil. Ireland is out of it, but Iceland is still in contention. And as Irish fan Eion Conlon says, "It's only one letter difference. It's like we're brothers."

A photo of three pioneering women doctors has been circulating in social media -- but they're not wearing white lab coats. They're wearing culturally significant dress and they represent the first women doctors from their countries, back in the 1800s.

Dengue Fever is one of the biggest killers in tropical countries. It's carried by mosquitoes that have proven tough to eradicate, so now officials in Brazil are trying a new approach: mosquitoes that have been genetically modified.

Despite over half of Brazilians claiming African descent, black Brazilians face widespread racism — which often manifests itself in violence. For the women of Miss Black Power Brazil, resistance against racism comes from a natural place — their hair.

Last year, Kate Mitchell became one of the 32 percent of US mothers who give birth via Cesarean section. Yet her intention was to avoid a C-section. Guidelines released in February outline steps to avoid unnecessary Cesarean sections, steps that hospitals and practitioners agree with. So why do Cesarean rates remain at all-time highs?

Edible insects are celebrated for being environmentally friendly and also potentially quite tasty. And now they're going mainstream, with the Dutch grocery store Jumbo getting ready to put them on the shelves.

Updated

07/08/2014 - 1:15pm

The drama has been intense on the field during the World Cup... and then there have been the games. The Wall Street Journal tallied up the theatrical moments of feigned injuries — and Brazil is the clear winner. At least in Brazil, women can attend the matches. Not so in Iran. And the US warns travelers away from visiting much of Africa, all in today's Global Scan.

Friday marks the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings during World War II. To mark the occasion, the UK Ministry of Defense has released historic photos taken from overhead in the initial minutes and hours of the invasion.

Brazilian supermodel Fernanda Lima has received a torrent of online abuse from Iranian soccer fans, following her appearance at last week's World Cup draw. Lima's dress was too revealing for Iranian TV, which interrupted the live program every time the cameras focused on the model — which was often.